Farm Help

"Agricultural software that can be used to aid in decision making and management has made great strides since the early days of computing systems available in mid-1980’s,” said John Sponaugle, adult agricultural educator and guest lecturer at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Farm programs are designed to assist farmers but often farmers have many reservations about participating in these programs. Here are a few clarities to common farm program misconceptions.

Mike McClintock, Boone County extension agent talked about his job at the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service in Arkansas: "We tailor-make all the scientific information we have in our hands to fit the producer’s issues and make it work."

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is designed to help producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions.

As the end of the year approaches and taxes are prepared, “Producers should prepare any government program materials the accountant may need to verify,” said Michael Popp professor in the University of Arkansas’ Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program available through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency which offers financial incentives to private landowners to enhance and protect water quality for drinking by filtering runoff, stabilizing streambanks and shading stream channels. Additional goals are to improve wildlife habitat and preserve the diversity of natural resources by increasing the amount, quality and connectivity of protected riparian corridors. The CREP program is a federal program administered by each state.

Every farmer knows there are uncontrollable risks when it comes to farming but what farmers may be less familiar with is ways to hedge against those risks. The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is designed to help producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions.

Joe Horner, Extension Economist for the University of Missouri’s Commercial Agriculture Program, said that in addition to keeping track of income and expenses for tax purposes, every producer should complete a “Balance Sheet” at the end of every year.

Wesley Tucker, Agricultural Business Specialist, Polk County and SW Region, explained: “My job is to give you the education and information you need to make your operation more profitable. My sole purpose is to help you. That’s what I love about my job.”

Farm programs are designed to assist farmers but often farmers have many reservations about participating in these programs. Here are a few clarities to common farm program misconceptions as explained by Myron Hartzell, Natural Resources Conservation Service grassland specialist in Dallas County, Mo.